Please tell me if this is not to be missed if visiting Egypt

Must make reservations now and I will base it upon your responses.

Thank you.

I thought it was one of the highlights of our trip. For me it ranked with the Pyramids and the temples of Luxor and Karnak.

I think to go all the way to Egypt and not see Abu Simble would be a real shame. I've been there twice and loved it.

I agree..Abu Simbel is not to be missed on a visit to Egypt.

I agree with the above comments. I have been there twice, most recently last week. This time instead of doing it on the run, we stayed overnight -- nice hotel seti I overlooking lake nassar and went to sound and light which i liked much better than the one at giza and it was just a beautiful starry night. we returned at dawn for sunrise when sun strike the statues at the back of the temple if you happen to visit near feb 22 or oct 22.

on another note, we did it this time as non-cruise trip which I really liked since I could control my itinerary -- we like to see things in some depth.

finally since I was with my daughter who had not been to egypt before, we did a day trip from luxor to dendara to give her a feel of being on the river. this was wonderful and we were the only tourist boat on the river north of luxor that day.

you will enjoy egypt. if you have extra time, try to walk around local areas off the tourist trail and meet some of the wonderful local people. we try to do this whereever we go and it is always a highlight of the trip.

Bonnie

Bonnie,

Our trip to Egypt was in Oct, '95 (I think).

And we took the flight to Abu Simbel and guess what......we got there to see the sun shine on ???, have forgotten his/their name in the small room.

Great experience.

One more for vote in favor of Abu Simbel. We even took the caravan from Aswan, and the whole experience was amazing.

By all means...GO!

Another vote - go for it.

Absolutely go to Abu Simble.

I agree with Grcxx3: "it would be a shame to go all this way and then miss Abu Simble."

Good for you BonnieN...and how lucky your are to have been there October 22 and/or February 22.

I was there in the middle October also but could not swing it, to be at Abu Simble exactly on October 22 !!

Egypt2008.... You will never regret seeing Abu Simble....but you will regret missing it...after you get home..!!!
So GO !!

Percy

Definately worth going to. We did it via road when we went ( 93 or 94). It was a long day, but well worth it. It is on a par with the pyramids and shouldn't be missed. It is just so huge as well!

another vote for not to be missed, and a vote for the sound and light which was good.

we stayed at the Seti also, and, while the grounds and rooms were very nice, the food was inedible, and that's where I got sick - not too bad, just uncomfortable, but what was interesting was I think the Antinal cleaned out my system so much that I remained sick for a few weeks, till I started taking probiotics here at home.

Egypt2008 thanks each and everyone of you for your comments. We hesitated with the 3:30 a.m. wake up call but you all convinced me it was a 'must see'. We were just surprised that EGYPTS FODORS OR FROMMERS OR LONELY PLANET didn't mention it as a must see.

Tomorrow we will call and make our reservations.

Thanks again.

Any other tips for first time travelers to Egypt would be most appreciated.

We are going with OAT and will be sure to bring nice gifts for the home visit and the visit to the school.

Happy Trails.
Egypt2008

sorry that you got sick at the seti. they do buffet meals and that almost stopped me from staying there, especially since there is a small b&b that has very good food. However, it seemed simpler to go along with the seti and I was surprised that the food, for a buffet which i really dislike, was not bad. nor was it great. but the setting, the room, the staff (our sink did not work properly and I think we instantly had the entire plumbing staff of abu simbel at our room and problem solved graciously. the hotel also makes fresh to order juices that were wonderful. so, after a lot of overthinking on my part, i was very happy to be at seti.
I don't think that in general you should worry about getting sick. As many of you, we travel a great deal, and try to just be careful.
bonnie